Printing-press.



No. 632,766. Patented Sept. l2, I899.

A. R. STONE.

PRINTING PRESS.

(Application filed Nov. 19, 1898.) (No Model.)

I ZSheets-Sheet l,

6 5 fizz/2%? 621 i M K 6 @M@ 6 4m )4: warns mzns co, wtmyurrac.WAEHINGTQN. u c

Patented Sept. I2, 1899. A. R. STONE.

PRINTING PRESS.

(Applicatioix filed Nov. 19, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

wgun IIIIIIILV VIII 7 Unr'rizn STATES PATENT FFICEt ALLISON R. STONE,Old-CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PRINTING-PRESS.

SFECIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 632,766, dated September12, 1899.

Application filed November 19, 1898. rial No- 696,844x (N0 model.)

struction or arrangement of printing or like press, to simplify theconstruction and operation of the same as much as possible, to dispensewith complicated and intricate mechanism for alternately inking the formand taking the impression or copy therefrom, to arrange for asatisfactory and efficient continuous supply of ink for inking theforms, to arrange for the automatic stoppage of the press after thetaking of each copy, if de-' sired, and to provide other novel featurestending to increase the efficiency and utility of these presses.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other desirable ends my inventionconsists in matters hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a printing or likepress embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectionof the same, taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse verticalsection of the upper part of the press, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. Fig. 4is a View, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, of theinking device. Fig. 5 is a modification of such device. Fig. 6 is anenlarged view of a detail of construction. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectionof a portion of a modified form of another de- 1ail of construction,also on a larger scale. Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevation of the devicefor automatically stopping the press after the taking of each copy; andFig. 9- is a view of such device, partly in vertical section and partlyin elevation and on a still larger scale.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred embodiment of myinvention; but I consider that in its broader features it can beembodied in other types-or forms of machines, and so do notdesire to beunderstood as limiting myself to the exact type or form of machineherein shown or to the specific devices which Iemploy therein.

In this machine the form X, from which the copy, either in the shape ofa proof or of a copy for use, is to be taken, is arranged in positionupon a horizontal bed or table A, which forms a support or holder forit. This bed or table A is suitably supported between side uprights orframe-pieces a a, which are in turn supported by legs A A and areconnected together,so as to form a machine-frame work, by connectingbars or rods a a. When so arranged upon the bed or table A, the form isfirst inked by a suitable inking device or devices, such as theinking-rollers B B then the paper Y, upon which the copy is 'to be made,is placed over the form either by hand or otherwise, then the paper ispressed against the form by a suitable impression device, such as theimpression-roller C, so as to make the proper copy upon it, and finallythe paper is lifted from the form with an impression thereof upon it.

In accordance with my invention the inking devices, such as the rolls BB, and the impression device, such as the roll 0, are successivelydrawnin proper order'over the form X, so as to first ink the form andthen make the impression upon the table, and they are then returned by adifferent way or path of travel instead of being returned over the sameroute on which they were advanced. In this way they are not returned soclosely above the form as to necessitate lifting the inking andimpression device in order to avoid the same, and consequently Idispense with all intricate and complicated mechanism for that purpose.As a simple, practical, and preferred embodiment of this principle Idraw the inking-rollers B B and the impressionroller 0 successively andin the proper order over the form X by an endless carrier, such as acouple of sprocket-chains D D. In such case I arrange thesprocket-chains to travel over a couple of pairs of sprocket-wheels E E,carried by shafts desirably mounted in the side uprights a a at oppositeends ofthe bed or table A. By such arrangement the inking-rollers B Band compression-roller Cafter passing over the form return below the bedor table A. The inking and impression rollers B B and C can be attachedto the sprocketohains D by any suitable devices which will allow thetravel of the chains about the sprocket-wheels E E. As a simplearrangement and as a matter of further and specific improvement I attachthem by means of the devices shown in the drawings. These devicesinvolve suitable bearings or journals G G, in which the roller spindlescan be mounted. The lower side portions of each of these bearings orjournals G G extend downwardly, so as to embrace the opposite sides ofthe portion of the chain to which it is to be attached.Thesedownwardly-extendingside portions are each provided with aperturesg, in which the projected ends of one of the joining spindles or pins ofthe sprocket-chain can be confined, and they are also provided withslots 9, in which a second spindle, similarly projecting from anotherjoint in the sprocket-chain, can be confined. In this way thesprocket-chain pin or spindle confined in the slots g can have suitableplay to permit the chain to travel about the sprocket-Wheels E E in aneasy manner and without binding. The spindles of the rollers B B and Care preferably mounted in these bearings or jour-' nals through themedium of an eccentric g,

which can be suitably turned so as to properly adjust the respectiverollers and which when so turned can be held in proper position by anadjusting-screw 9 I desirably arrange at the opposite sides of the bedor table A suitable tracks H H, upon which can travel suitable wheels JJ on the opposite ends of the rollers B B and C. The height of thesetracks H H is such as to allow the inking and impression rollers totravel over the bed or table A at such a distance above it as to restproperly upon the form X when passing over it. In this way theimpression-roller is turned during its advancement over the bed or tableand so does not strike the form in a stationary condition, and therebytend to drag the paper over it; but it rolls smoothly and evenly overthe paper without any tendency to displace the same.

In orderto prevent the impression-roller C from being unduly lifted inpassing over the form X and so to insure the making of an impressiontherefrom, I desirably arrange above the tracks H H suitablydownward-facing guides K K, which are so positioned as to allow thebearings or journals G G to pass readily below them. In this way theimpression-roller is confined so as to substantiall y prevent any extentof vertical movement when passing over the bed or table A. The guides KK are conveniently provided by forming flanges at the upper edge of theside uprights a a.

As a matter of further improvement I arrange the devices for the inking-rollers B B below the bed or table A, in which way they are confinedin a space which otherwise would not be utilized, while at the same timethey are protected from dust and injury. \Vhile any inking device can beemployed for this purpose,l desirablyIemploy an inking-surface L, overwhich the inking-rollers can roll in returning below the bed or table Aand with which'they can make contact, so as to procure ink from it. InFigs. 2 and 4 I have shown this inking-surface provided by a conple ofhorizontally-arranged circular inking plates or disks M M, and this isthe arrangement I prefer to use. When so employed, the plates or disksare desirably intermittently rotated, so as to secure an evendistribution of the ink upon them and to suchend are mounted forrotation in suitable bearings or journals provided in the crossframepieces a a. intermittently rotated by a couple of reciprocatingpawls n n, which are adapted and arranged to engage ratchet-wheels m mbelow the circular disks M M, so as to turn the latter. The pawls n nare reciprocated by a reciprocating rod or link N, to which they arepivotally connected. This reciprocating rod N slides upon theframe-pieces a a and is guided in its reciprocation by suitableguideways n 12 which work upon pins 11 n formed on said cross-pieces a,a. The rod N is drawn rearwardlyby the arm 19 of the bell-crank lever P,to which it is pivotally connected, and is drawn forwardly by thetension-spring Q, which has its rear end attached to the rod N and itsforward end attached to the forward crosspiece a. The bell-crank lever Pis moved rearwardly by the impression-roller 0 when the latter is drawnabout the rear sprocket-wheels E E by a band portion 0 of said rollerstriking against the upwardly and rearwardly inclined arm 1) of saidbell-crank lever P. It thereby draws the pawls n 11 past one of theteeth on the ratchet-wheels m m. Upon its release by the forwardmovement .of the impression-roller C, after the latter has passed aboutthe rear sprocket-wheels E E, the bell-crank lever P is drawn forwardlyby the spring Q in a way to cause the pawls n n to turn theratchet-wheels a distance of one tooth, and thereby turn ,the circularinkingplates M a corresponding portion of a revolution. Theinking-rollers B B are constructed with a recess Z) at their ends inalinernent with the lever-arm p of the bell-crank lever P, in which waythey fail to strike against and operate said bell-crank lever in theirpassage about the rear end of the bed or tableA- hen thus mounted, theyare.

As a result it will be seen that for each passage of the inking-rollersover the inkingdisks M M the latter are turned a portion of arevolution. It will also be seen that this movement of the inking disksor plates occurs at a time when the inking-rollers are free and arereceding from them, it being observed that device I have shown in Fig. 5a rectangular inking-platen M, mounted for transverse movement upon acouple of slideways It R. This ink-platen M can be shifted backward andforward transversely by a link connection 7* with a wheel 0' having aratchet-wheel m, which can be actuated by a pawl n on a reciprocatingrod N in the manner heretofore set forth with reference to the mechanismshown in Figs. 2 and 4. As an arrangement for automatically supplyingink continuously to the inking-surface L, whether the latter is providedby the circular disks M M or the laterally-shifting platen h I haveshown an ink-fountain comprising an ink-supply wheel or roller IVsupported in bearings formed at the end of an ink-box \V in such a waythat the lower portion of the roller IV is continually submerged in theink which, it is understood, the box contains. The roller IV is arrangedin such position that its upper surface is substantially in alinementwith the inking-surface L, in which way the inkingrollers B B come incontact with it and receive ink from it in passing to suchinking-surface L. The box IV is conveniently supported 011 a shelf toto, which is in turn supported by a bracket attached to the legs A. Thisinksupply wheel W is desirably intermittently rotated at each revolutionof the inkingwheels B B by a pawl Z, Fig. 1, which is pivotallyconnected with a rocker-arm on the rock-shaft carrying the bell-cranklever P and which acts against a ratchet-wheel 10, with which the rollerIV is provided.

I desirably provide below the bed or table A a couple of tracks S S,upon which the bearings or journals G G of the rollers can travel. Thesetracks S S are conveniently provided by flanges formed on lower edges ofthe frameuprights d a.

The journals G G of the inking-rollers B B are of such a size as toallow these rollers to rest upon the inking-surface L during theirreturn belowthe bed or table A; but in order to prevent theimpression-roller C from resting upon this inking-surface and sobecoming undesirably coated with ink the journals G G of this roller aremade larger, so that the impression-roller in its return passage islifted a slight distance above the inking-surface.

The impression-roller O can be of any suitable construction; but as amatter of pre ferred arrangement it is constructed with an outercylinder 0 of hard material and an inner cylinder 0 of soft spongymaterial. By this construction it will make a satisfactory and clearimpression upon the paper and at the same time will accommodate itselfto such slight variations in height as may occur in different forms. Inorder, however, to addiiionally or alternately provide for variations inthe height of forms, I can make the upper guides K K verticallyadjustable and subject them to downward tension, as shown in Fig. 7. Inthis figure I have shown side uprights a (0 extended upward more than inthe previously-described construction and the guides K K suspended fromflanges on the upper edges of these side uprights a a by bolts a a andnormally pressed downward by springsV V,which are confined between thesaid flanges and the guides. By such arrangement the impression-rolleris normally pressed downward, so as to always rest upon the forms ir=respective of their heights, it being understood that the tracks HH,uponwhich the rollers run, are of such a height as to allow the roller tocome in contact with the lowest form used.

It will be understood that although I have shown but two inking-rollersB B, I can employ any suitable number, either greater or less than thenumber shown.

The press could be suitably driven either by hand or by a powerconnection, such as the belt shown traveling overa pulley T on therear-sprocket shaft F. In the latter case the pulley T can be made rigidwith the shaft, so as to drive the press continuously as long as thebelt runs. As a preferred arrangement, however, the pulley T is mountedloosely on its shaft and is associated with a clutch device by which thepress can be either allowed to run continuously or be antomaticallystopped after the making of each copy. l/Vhile any suitable clutchdevice can be employed for this purpose, I have shown herein a devicewhich is particularly well adaped for use in connection with a press ofthis kind and whichI consider a matter of further and specificimprovement. In this device, which is shown in connection with the pressin Figs. 1 and 2 and alone in detail in Figs. 8 and 9, I secure a coupleof arms 2 2 rigidly to the shaft F, upon which the pulley T is looselymounted, so that they are continuously rotated by it. Each of theserotating arms 2 2 carries a reciprocating rod or link 3, which isloosely mounted in a suitable guide or holder 4, formed at the end ofthe arm 2, carrying it. This mounting allows the rods or links 3 3 toslide readily back and forth relativelyto the arms 2 2 in a generalradial direction and also to swing slightly from side to side abouttheir points of connection with the arms. The outer ends of these rodsor links are provided with friction-shoes 5 5, which when the rods orlinks are moved outward press against the interior of the rim ofthepulley T, and thereby cause the latter to rotate the arms 2 2 and theshaft carrying the same. The inner ends of the rods or links 3 3 arebent laterally, so as to form pins 6 6. The latter are engaged by afriction-wheel '7, which is mounted loosely on the shaft F. By therotative movement of this wheel 7 relatively to the arms 2 2 in onedirection the rods 3 3 are projected outwardly to an extent to cause thefrictionshoes 5 5 thereon to engage the pulley T, while by its rotativemovement in the opposite direction the rods are retracted so as to causethe withdrawal of. thefriction-shoes from the pulley. The arms 2 2 andthe loose friction-wheel are engaged by retraotile springs 8 8, whichhold the friction-wheel 7 normally in the position by which the rods 3 3are projected outwardly, so as to cause the friction-shoes 5 5 thereonto engage the pulley T. In this way the friction-shoes 5 5 are heldnormally against the pulley-rim, so that the pulley 7 normally rotatesthe shaft F, and thereby normally continuously operates the press.Obviously the retardation of the friction-wheel 7 would cause therotation of the same relatively to the arms 2 2 and would thereby causethe retraction of the rods 2 2, the withdrawal of the friction-shoes 5 5from the pulley-rim, and the consequent stoppage of the machine. Thedevice I have shown for thus retarding the rotation of the frictionwheel7 consists of a frictionblock 9, which can be reciprocated into and outof contact with the rim of said wheel 7. The rim of the wheel 7 isdesirably grooved and the block 9 correspondingly beveled. The block 9is conveniently reciprocated by a reciprocating link 10, to which it issecured. The link 10 is guided by pins 11 11, which project from theside a, on the machine-frame and work in slots 13 13 formed in the link.The latter is normally held in position to retain the friction-block 9out of contact with the friction-wheel 7 by a retractile spring 14:,whose forward end is attached to a pin 15 on the machine-frame and whoserear end is attached to the forward end of the link 10. As a simple andconvenient arrangement, the link 10 is drawn rearwardly, so as to bringits frictionblock 9 into contact with the friction-wheel '7 by thebell-crank lever P, in which way the press is stopped with theimpression and inking rollers at op posite ends of the bed or table A.To such end the rear end 16 of the link 10 is bent inwardly, as bestshown in Figs. 1 and 9, so as to be engaged by the arm p of saidbell-crank P, when the latter is moved rearwardly to shift the inkinplate or plates and operate the inkfountain.

The rear portion of the link 10-is capable of being moved laterally toan extent to permit of its bent end 16 being brought into positioneither to be struck and engaged by the bellcrank lever-arm p or to allowsaid arm to pass the end of said portion 16 without striking. Anexpansive spring 17, Fig. 9, forces the rear portion of the link 10normally into position to be struck by the bell-crank arm 10 and to bemoved thereby so as to bring the frictionblock 9 into contact with thefriction-wheel 7 every time the impression roller passes around the rearend of the table. By simply pressing the rear end of the link 10outwardly against the spring 17, either by grasping its handle 20 withthe hand or by some suitable device, the bent end 16 thereof is moved soas to prevent the bell-crank arm 1) from striking it.

Obviously by such arrangement the press will normally be stopped afterthe tak- "a ing of each impression, but it can be allowed to runcontinuously by simply pushing the rear portion of the link 10 outward.

It will be seen that by my invention I secure a practical and simplepress capable of it allows the forms to be easily and quickly introducedand removed, and also allows paper of any form or size to be employedwithou inconvenience or delay.

WVhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a press, the combination of abed or table upon which the form can be arranged,

a couple of flexible endless carriers arranged to travel along the sidesof the bed or table, and provided with inking and impression rollers;wheels for the endless carriers, mounted, at the ends of the bed ortable; tracks upon which the said rollers can roll while passing overthe bed or table; an inking-surface arranged below the bed or table;

guides associated with the bed or table, and tracks associated with theinking-surfaces; and hearings or journals for the inking and impressionrolls, said hearings or journals having connections with the endlesscarriers adapted to permit the latter to travel about theircarrying-wheels, and the impressionroller bearing-journal beingconstructed so as to engage the guides associated with the bed or tablein a way to prevent the impression-roller from rising in passing overthe form, and also so as to engage the tracks associated with theinking-surface and thereby prevent said roller from making contact withthe latter, and the inking-roller bearings or journals being constructedso as to allow the inking-rollers to travel upon the inking-surface.

2. In a press, the combination with the bed or table, the shiftableinking-surface, and mechanism for shifting the same, of the endlesscarrier carrying inking and impression devices, one of which is adaptedto actuate the inking-surface-shifting mechanism, while the other orothers is or are not so adapted.

3. In a press, the combination with the bed or table, a swinging lever,and mechanism operated by said lever, of the endless carrier carryinginking and impression rollers,whereof the impression-roller isconstructed so as to strike said lever and thereby automatically actuatesaid mechanism, while the inkingrollers are constructed with grooves orrecesses which permit them to pass the lever without actuating it.

4. In a press, the combination with the bed or table, the endlesscarrier provided with inking and impression devices, wheels for saidcarrier, and with means for stopping the press, of a device carried bythe endless carrier and adapted to automatically actuai e the stoppingmechanism.

5. A press comprising a bed or table upon which the form can bearranged; sprocketwheels mounted at the opposite ends of the bed ortable; sprocket-chains carried by said sprocket wheels and arranged toadvance over the bed or table and to return under it; inking-diskssupported below the bed or Lable; inking and impression rollers carriedby the sprocket-chains and connected therewith in such a way as to causethe inking-rollers to travel over and in contact wit-h the inkingdisks,and to allow the impression-roller to pass over without coming incontact therewith; and means for automatically rotating theinking-disks.

6. A press comprising a bed or table upon which the form can bearranged; rotating wheels arranged at the opposite ends of the bed ortable; chains, or the like, carried by said wheels and arranged toadvance over the bed and to return under it; an inking-surface arrangedbelow the bed or table; inking and impression rollers carried by thechains or like devices; tracks upon which the rollers can travel inpassing over the bed or table; journals or bearings by which the inkingand im-' pression rollers are attached to the endless chains, whereofthose of the inking-rollers are shorter vertically than that of theimpressionroller; guides under which the journals or bearings pass asthe rollers advance over the bed or table, for holding theimpression-roller against rising in passing over the form; tracks uponwhich the roller-journals can travel in passing below the bed or table,said tracks being positioned so as to allow the inking-rollers to restupon the inking-surface in passing over it, and to support theimpression-roller above and out of contact therewith; and means forshifting the inking-surface upon each revolution of the inking andimpression rollers.

7. In a press, the combination with the bed or table, the endlesscarrier provided with inking and impression devices, wheels for saidcarrier-,the shiftableinking-surface, and mecharr ism for shifting thelatter, of a device carried by the endless carrier and adapted toautomatically actuate said shifting mechanism so as to cause the same toautomatically shift the inking-surface.

8. In a press, the combination of a swinging lever, means for actuatingthe same after the taking of each impression; a clutch for automaticallystopping the press; a longitudinally and laterally shiftable link,arranged to operate the clutch when shifted longitudinally and adaptedto be automatically engaged and shifted longitudinally by said lever,and also to be moved laterally so as to prevent its being engaged by thelever; and a spring for holding the link normally in position to beengaged by the lever.

El. In a press, the combination with thebed or table, the inking andimpression devices, and with mechanism for operatingthe latter, of ashiftable inking-surface, mechanism for automatically shifting theinking-surface after the taking of each impression, and also foreitherau tom atically stopping the press, or allowing the same to runcontinuously, atwill; and means for simultaneously actuatingboth theink-surface-shifting mechanism, and the stopping mechanism.

10. In a press, the combination with the endless chain or the like, theinking-rollers carried thereby, and the wheels for the chains, of aninking-su rface capable of shifting movement; a ratchetwheel connectedwith such surface so that when turned it will shift the same; a pawlacting upon said ratchet-wheel; a reciprocating rod actuating the pawl;a bell-crank lever having one of its arms pivotally connected with thereciprocatingrod, and the other extended in a way to cause it to bestruck and actuated by the impression-roller; and a spring forautomaticallyreturning the bell-crank lever to its original position andthereby actuating the ratchet-wheel so as to shift the inking-surface.

11. In a press, the combination with the bed or table, the inking andimpression rollers, and means for advancing such rollers over the bed ortable, of tracks upon which the rollers can travel;vertically-adjustable guides suspended above the path of travel of theimpression roller bearings or journals; and means for subjecting saidguides to tension tending to force them normally downward upon saidimpression-roller bearings or journals.

12. In a press, means for automatically stopping the same, comprising apulley loose on the driving-shaft, rotating arms fast on the same;sliding arms carried by said rotating arms and provided at their outerends with friction-shoes adapted to engage the pulley-rim; a frictiondevice,such as the frictionwheel 7, mounted loosely on thedriving-shaft, and engaged by the inner ends of the sliding arms, sothat when turned in one direction relatively to the fixed arms, it willthrow the former outward into position to cause their friction-shoes toengage the pulley-rim, and when turned in the other direction, it willretract the same so as to withdraw their friction-shoes from thepulley-rim; spring means for holding the friction device in position tocause the engagement of the friction shoes with the pulley-rim; andmechanism for antomatically applying friction to the loose frictiondevice so as to cause it to retract the sliding arms and therebywithdraw the trio tion-shoes thereon from the pulley-rim.

' 13. In a press, means for automatically stopping the press, comprisinga pulley loose on the drivingshaft; rotating arms fixed thereon; slidingarms carried by the fixed arms and provided at their outer ends withfriction-shoes adapted to engage the pulleyrims; a friction-wheel 7mounted loosely on the driving-shaft, and engaged by the inner ends ofthe sliding arms; springs for holding said loose friction device inposition to retain the friction-shoes on the sliding arms normally inengagement with the pulley-rim a sliding link provided With afriction-block adapted to engage the rim of the friction-Wheel 7; alever arranged and adapted to engage and operate the sliding link; andmechanism for automatically actuating said lever.

14. In a press, the combination with the shiftable inking-surface,andwith mechanism for shifting the same, and also with a device forstopping the press, of mechanism for au-.

tomatically and simultaneously actuating both the'mechanism for shiftingthe inkingsurface,and the device for stopping the press.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 4th I day of November, 1898.

ALLISON R. STONE.

Witnesses:

A. MILLER BELFIELD, L. M. BULKLEY.

